Massage device



LTSLQGO flat. 15, 1929. M. w. JORDAN MASSAGE DEVICE Filed Feb. 16, 1926 Patented 0st. 15, 1929 "P rice MARIAN V. JORDAN, 013 LOS ANGELES, CALTFOlR-hllih, .AESTGIIUIL T0 FRANCES JORDAN,

INCORPURATED, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENN GINIA "IL'VANIA, it GORPURATION 0F VIR- MASSAGE DEVICE Application filed. February This invention relates to improvements in a device and a method for massaging the human body whereby the same effects produced by a well known manual system of massage are obtained.

This application is a continuation in part of application Serial Number 581,134, filed August 11, 1922, Massage devices.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a massage device which shall be extremely simple to manufacture, durable, and very ellicient in operation, and of such a construction that it can be readily used by the person whose body is to be massaged.

A further object is to provide a massage device which shall be of such construction that in its use on the flesh of the human body, the flesh will be completely yet gently kneaded and subjected to substantially the same movement that is imparted to the flesh by a professional. masseur employing the Swedish massage method. Other advantages and objects of the invention will be set forth in the accompanying description.

In the drawings, which serve to illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showing a portion of the surface of the device;

Figure 2 is another view in side elevation, the device having been turned approximately one-quarter from the position occupied in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end view of the device, lookinp; in the direction of the long axis, and

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 1.

Throughout the several views of the drawing, like numerals of reference refer to corresponding parts.

The device consists of a roller portion 1 and handles 2, positioned at either extremity thereof. The roller portion is substantially that of a cylinder, bored at both ends to receive bearing; pins 3 having caps 4- at their outer extremities. These pins are rigidly secured into the roller portion in any well known manner and support handles 2, free to rotate thereon, the latter being; retained on the pins by means of the caps 4 on the outer ends of the pins.

16, 1926. Serial No. 88,543.

The roller, forming the basis of this invention, is of a novel and peculiar configuration and construction. It is preferably constructed of some non-yieldable rigid material, such for example as wood or a phenolic condensation product, which may be readily carved or molded to assume the desired contour.

By referring to Figure 1, it will be seen that the roller has for its base a portion sub stanti ally that of a cylinder and formed there on are enlargements 5, which are subsantially ti-shaped. These enlargements are disposed lengthwise of the roller and lie in axial parallel courses. They are all of uniform size and are spaced equally from each other in their respective courses, and are also extended between each other. These enlargement extend beyond the base portion of th roller to substantially rounded portions 7, said portions being smoothly curved so that the side walls of each enlargement in one course are continuous and merge with the side walls of the adjacent enlargements in the adjacent parallel courses.

liy referring to Figure 2., which is similar to Figure 1 but shows the roller rotated one quarter of a turn, it will readily be seen that the enlargements lie in axial parallel courses and that all of the enlargements in one axial course have the points extending in one direction and that the enlargements in the adjacent parallel courses have their points extending in the opposite direction. Therefore, between the if-shaped enlargements, there will be formed V-shaped depressions or valleys 6, and by tracing; a definite depression or valley around the roller, it will be seen that it assumes a tortuous path. By reference to Figure l, which is a section of the roller taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1, it will be seen that these depressions or valleys are as smoothly curved are the outermost portions of the enlargements 5. The formation of the surface of the massage roller may be considered to be analogous to a hill and dale formation.

Considering the massage roller circumferentially, it will be seen that the roller consists of a series of contact units, each of which has a plurality of beveled points and intermediroller.

the roller, the flesh and muscles will be kneaded and extended into the V-shaped depressions or valleys and'thus extended in a direction at right angles to the line of movement of the 7 Such a method of massage closely simulates the well known and beneficial Swedish massage which consists in literally firmly grasping the flesh and muscle and massaging itso that it is kneaded and extended in a dij rection other than the natural direction and position which said parts of the human body tend to take. Inthis movement a given portion of the flesh or muscle is subjected to power applied at opposite sides and at points slightly apart so that the part treated is pulled orlengthened.

I By increasing the pressure on the roller, the more pronounced will be the effect produced and in a very short period of time, the operator will notice that the fatty tissues are being effectively broken up and that the blood circulation is being stimulated.

" I claim j I 1. A massage device comprising a roller having means at its ends for supporting it, the surface of said roller having thereon a plurality of spaced apart longitudinally axially disposed V-shaped enlargements, said enlargements being extended between each other andof uniform size. 7

' 2. A massage device comprising a roller having a handle at each of its ends, the surface of saidroller having thereon a plurality of spaced apart longitudinally axially disposed V shaped enlargements, and lying in parallel courses, said enlargements being extended between each other and of uniform size, the enlargements in one course being disposed in a direction opposite to the enlargements in the adjacent 7 courses.

3. A massage device comprising a roller having a handle ateach of its ends, the surface of said roller having thereon a plurality of spaced apart longitudinally disposed V- shaped enlargements located in alignment and of uniform size.

4. A'massage device comprising a roller having a handle at each of its ends, the surface of. said roller having thereon a plurality of spaced apart longitudinally disposed V- shaped enlargements located in alignment and of uniform size and lying in parallel courses, said enlargements being extended between each other and of uniform size and to the novel construction of the surface of having their outermost portions smoothly curved so that the side walls of each enlargement in one course are continuous and merge with the side Walls of the adjacent enlargements in the adjacent parallel courses.

5. A massage device comprising a roller having means at its ends for supporting it, the surface of said roller having thereon a plurality of spaced apart longitudinally axially disposed V-shaped enlargements, said enlargements being extended between each other and of uniform size, and having V- shaped depressions between said V-shaped enlargements.

6. A massage device including a cylindrical roller having a handle, said roller being equipped with a series of circumferential contact units, each of said units having a plurality of beveled points and intermediate recesses at each of its ends, those at one end being out of alignment with those at the other.

7 In a massage device including a cylindrical roller having a handle, said roller being equipped with a series of circumferentially continuous contact units, each of said units having a plurality of beveled projections and intermediate recesses at each of its ends, the points of one unit extending into the recesses of the adjoining units and spaced therefrom.

8. In a massage device including a cylindrical roller having a handle, said roller being equipped with a series of circumferentially continuous contact units, each of said units having a plurality of beveled projections forming intermediate recesses at each of its ends, the points of one unit extending into the recesses of the adjoining unit and spaced therefrom.

9. A massage device including a cylindrical roller having a handle, said roller having a series of circumferentially continuous contact units, each of said units having a plurality of projections and intermediate recesses at each of its ends and the projections of one unit extending into the recesses of the next adjacent units.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature.

MARIAN W. JORDAN. 

